RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

'We deplore the way she was treated by the BBC management over a considerable period of time but the decision not to allow her to present the programme and say goodbye after 11 years at Midlands Today is nothing short of disgrace.'

Former Countryfile presenter Miriam O'Reilly left the BBC to help women facing discrimination

A BBC spokeswoman said: 'The BBC does not comment on individual cases but any accusations of bullying are taken very seriously.'

The payout comes three months after BBC radio journalist Russell Joslin, 50, killed himself after claiming bosses ignored his pleas for help when he was allegedly sexually harassed by a female colleague.

Miriam O'Reilly left the BBC to launch a support service for women facing discrimination in the workplace, a year after her own ageism tribunal victory against the Corporation.

The former Countryfile presenter is thought to have received a six-figure payout following the verdict in 2011.

Miss O’Reilly, 54, was one of four women presenters in their 40s and 50s who were removed from BBC1 rural affairs show Countryfile in 2009, when the show was being revamped for peak time.

In the landmark ruling the BBC was accused of being obsessed with attracting younger viewers and of ‘social engineering’ for sacking her because she was seen as too old.